Expandable container for floral grouping

ABSTRACT

This invention generally relates to expandable containers, more importantly, to expandable containers having a housing with at least one chamber devoid of a fill material in an unexpanded condition and in an expanded condition the chamber having a fill material disposed therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to expandable containers, moreimportantly, to expandable containers having a housing with at least onechamber and at least one fill material.

2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention

Many prior art containers are constructed from relatively heavy rigidmaterials, while other containers are formed from flexible materialssuch as a plastic fashioned into rigid or semi rigid configurations.Still other containers are constructed from materials, such ascardboard, that unfold into the shape of a container. Significantdisadvantages of such containers are the difficulties encountered inerecting the containers, excessive weight, and space required to storeand ship such containers and the lack of protection provided articlesdisposed within such containers unless dunnage is added to the interiorof the container to assist in protecting the article from forcestypically encountered during shipping. The disadvantages of requiringthe use of dunnage in containers are dunnage compression, migration,disposal, and cost. To these ends, a container is needed which overcomesthe before mentioned disadvantages of prior art containers. It is tosuch an expandable container that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention relates to a container for floralgroupings, the container having a collapsed condition and an expandedcondition. In the expanded condition, the container includes a fillmaterial and a housing. The housing has at least one chamber adapted toreceive the fill material and at least one inlet for permittingintroduction of the fill material into the chamber of the housing. Thefill material can be any suitable material capable of expanding thechamber so as to move the container from the collapsed condition to theexpanded condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for a floral groupingconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the containershown in an expanded condition and having a pump connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the container of FIG. 1 in a collapsedcondition and without the pump connected thereto.

FIG. 4 a perspective view of another embodiment of a container for afloral grouping constructed in accordance with the present invention,the container shown in an expanded condition.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the container of FIG. 4 in a collapsedcondition.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the containerof the presently disclosed invention, the container shown in a collapsedcondition.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 7 in anexpanded condition.

DESCRIPTION

Before explaining in detail, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited in its application to the details of construction and thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description(e.g., text, examples, data, and/or tables) or illustrated or shown inthe drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of beingpracticed or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting, and one of ordinaryskill in the art, given the present specification, would be capable ofmaking and using the presently claimed and disclosed invention in abroad and non-limiting manner.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, showntherein and designated by the general reference number 10 is a containerfor a floral grouping 12. The container 10 is selectively movablebetween a collapsed condition (FIG. 3) and an expanded condition (FIGS.1 and 2). In the expanded condition the container 10 has a substantiallyopen upper end 16, a sidewall 18, a substantially closed lower end 22,an outer peripheral surface 26, an inner peripheral surface 28, and aretaining space 30. The retaining space 30 is defined by thesubstantially closed lower end 22 and the sidewall 18. The retainingspace 30 is typically sized and shaped so as to contain a flower pot 32.The flower pot 32 may be filled with a floral holding material 34 forsupporting the floral grouping 12. Those of ordinary skill in the artwill also readily recognize and understand that the container 10 andretaining space 30 may also be sized and shaped so as to contain a widevariety of other articles, such as a box, or a vase, or any other objecthaving a mass.

The container 10, in the expanded condition, includes a fill material 38and a housing 40. The housing 40 is provided with a chamber 42 and aninlet 44, wherein the inlet 44 is in fluid communication with thechamber 42 such that the fill material 38 may be introduced into thechamber 42 through the inlet 44. The inlet 44 and the chamber 42 arealso configured such that the fill material 38 can be evacuated from thechamber 42 through the inlet 44. In the expanded condition of thecontainer 10, the chamber 42 is substantially filled with the fillmaterial 38.

The housing 40 may be constructed, at least in part, from at least oneflexible sheet of material 43. The at least one flexible sheet ofmaterial 43 is sized, shaped, and sealed so as to create the chamber 42.The important aspect of the seal is that it substantially seals thechamber 42 of the housing 40 such that the chamber 42 is capable ofcontaining the fill material 38. The chamber 42 is constructed of amaterial and in such a manner that it is substantially impermeable tothe fill material 38. Examples of materials that can be sized, shaped,configured, sealed, and fitted with the inlet 44 so as to form thechamber 42, include but are not limited to rubber, plastic, mylar, foil,treated paper or pvc, and combinations and derivations thereof.

The at least one flexible sheet of material 43 may be constructed of asingle layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same ordifferent types of materials. The plurality of layers of materialcomprising the at least one flexible sheet of material 43 may belaminated together or connected together by any method described hereinor known to one of at least ordinary skill in the art.

The inlet 44 of the housing 40 is constructed such that the fillmaterial 38 is introduced and disposed into the chamber 42 of thehousing 40 through the inlet 44 and the fill material 38 is containedand retained within the chamber 42 of the housing 40 for so long as itis desired that the container 10 remain in the expanded condition. Thefill material 38 may also be evacuated from the chamber 42 of thehousing 40 through the inlet 44 so as to return the container 10 to thecollapsed condition in order to conserve storage space until it isdesired to use or reuse the container 10. To reuse the container 10, theinlet 44 is reopened and the fill material 38 is again introduced intothe chamber 42 of the housing 40 via the inlet 44. In one embodiment,the inlet 44 may be a valve similar to an air valve typically found onan automobile, motorcycle, or bicycle tire—i.e., an air valve having avalve stem and a cap. The inlet 44 may be of the type typically found ona beach ball or other inflatable object (such as an air mattress or poolflotation device)—i.e., the inlet 44 having a hollow tube, a leakprevention gasket, and a leak proof cap.

In the collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 42 of thehousing 40 is substantially free of the fill material 38 such that theat least one flexible sheet of material 43 from which the housing 40 isconstructed folds upon itself forming a plurality of overlapping folds46. In the collapsed condition, the housing 40 typically assumes asubstantially planar or flat configuration (i.e., being flattened alongand in conjunction with the plurality of overlapping folds 46) tothereby provide a space saving functionality to the container 10 forconvenient, economic shipping and storage.

In the expanded condition, the chamber 42 of the housing 40 issufficiently pressurized and/or sufficiently filled with the fillmaterial 38 to overcome atmospheric pressure, diffuse the plurality ofoverlapping folds 46, and expand the chamber 42 of the housing 40 tothereby articulate the container 10 into the expanded condition.

Examples of materials that are utilized as fill materials include gases,liquids, granular solids, and combinations thereof. Examples of granularsolids include but are not limited to sugar, salt, plastic, metal beads,wire, sand, bicarbonate of soda, or combinations and derivationsthereof. Examples of gases include, but are not limited to air, oxygen,nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, or carbon dioxide. Examples of liquidsinclude but are not limited to water, hydraulic fluid, mercury, orvinegar.

Typically, (and as shown in FIG. 3) if the fill material 38 is agranular solid, the inlet 44 is a hollow tube 47 in fluid communicationwith the chamber 42 of the housing 40 and a cap 48 capable of sealingthe hollow tube 47 and, thus, also the chamber 42 of the housing 40.Typically, if the fill material 38 is a gas or liquid, the inlet 44 is avalve 49, having a valve stem 50 and a cap 51 of a type substantiallysimilar to the type of valve typically found on an automobile,motorcycle, or bicycle tire which automatically opens and shuts inresponse to air or liquid pressure.

The shape of the container 10, at least in part, in the expandedcondition is provided by the shape of the chamber 42 of the housing 40and the balance between the expansive forces of the fill material 38 andthe resistance of the at least one flexible sheet of material 43. It isimportant to note that the expansive force of the fill material 38should not exceed the flexing limit of the at least one flexible sheetof material 43 used to construct the container 10, for example, theexpansive force of the fill material 38 should not be so great so as toburst or rupture the chamber 42 of the housing 40.

“Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial plants, or otherfloral materials that may include other secondary plants and/orornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to theaesthetics of the overall floral arrangement. Floral grouping maycomprise a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. However, it willbe understood that the floral grouping may consist of only a singlebloom or only foliage. The term “floral grouping” may be usedinterchangeably herein with the term “floral arrangement.”

The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeably herein with theterms “plant” and/or “flower.” The term “floral grouping” may also beused interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item” and/or“propagule.” The floral grouping may be cut flowers, a potted plant, orpropagules.

The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural herbaceous orwoody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term “botanical item”also means any portion or portions of natural herbaceous or woody plantsincluding stems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, orroots, taken singly or in combination, or in groupings of such portionssuch as a bouquet or floral grouping.

The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capable ofbeing propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds,shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots, or spores.

The term “floral holding material” may be any type of material commonlyreferred to in the art as floral foam or Oasis™ or may be soil orartificial soil (organic or inorganic) or other earth composition solong as the material is capable of holding its predetermined shape andcapable of receiving and supporting the floral grouping without anyadditional structural means such as, but not by way of limitation, apot. The floral holding material may also be, in one embodiment, capableof receiving and holding water for the purpose of supplying water to thefloral grouping. The floral holding material may also be, in oneembodiment for example, sand, soil, fibrous material such as peat moss,or other materials used in the art of supporting plants or floralgroupings. The floral holding material may also be a hollow conical orfrusto-conical structure with a retaining space suitable for disposingat least a portion of a floral grouping therein, such as, a flexiblesheet of plastic formed into a conical or frusto-conical configurationhaving an opening therein to form the retaining space and also toprovide means for supporting and/or holding the floral grouping inplace.

The floral holding material may be any desired shape suitable for anyparticular application or may be particulate, granular, or in a “gel”type state. The floral holding material is preferably constructed of amaterial capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and holdingor supporting the floral grouping. In some instances the floral holdingmaterial is capable of supporting the floral grouping without the needfor a pot or other supporting type of assemblies.

The flower pot 32 is provided with an upper end 52, a bottom end 54, anda substantially continuous sidewall 56 extending between the upper end52 and the bottom end 54 so as to form a substantially frusto-conicalshaped item. The bottom end 54 and the substantially continuous sidewall56 cooperate to define a receiving space 58 within the flower pot 32.The receiving space 58 is sized and shaped so as to receive the floralholding material 34 (see FIG. 1) for supporting the floral grouping 12in the container 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the flower pot 32 is generallyfrustconically shaped. However, the flower pot 32 may be any shape asmay be desired in a particular application—i.e., conical, cylindrical,coniform, spherical, cubic, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, fanciful,or combinations and derivations thereof.

Although the chamber 42 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 as being formed betweenthe outer peripheral surface 26 and the inner peripheral surface 28 ofthe container 10, those skilled in the art will also readily understandand appreciate that the housing 40 could be designed and configured suchthat the chamber 42 is formed between only a portion of the innerperipheral surface 28 and a portion of the outer peripheral surface 26of the container 10—i.e., cells may be created in the housing 40 so asto create a quilting effect.

Although the outer peripheral surface 26 and the retaining space 30 ofthe container 10 are shown in FIG. 1 as essentially frusto-conical inconfiguration those skilled in the art will readily appreciate andunderstand that a plurality of different housings could be designed witheach different housing providing a different configuration for the outerperipheral surface 26 and the retaining space 30 of the container 10,such as conical, cylindrical, coniform, spherical, cubic, rectangular,hexagonal, octagonal, fanciful, or combinations and derivations thereof.

Although the housing 40 is described and shown in FIG. 1 as having onlyone chamber 42 and one inlet 44, those skilled in the art will alsoreadily understand and appreciate that the housing 40 could be designedand configured so as to provide a plurality of chambers with eachchamber having at least one inlet.

The container 10 may have a decorative surface ornamentation such ascolorings, coatings, embossings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, orother decorative surface ornamentation applied separately orsimultaneously, or may be characterized totally or partially bypearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, or the likequalities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or incombination and may be applied to the inner peripheral surface 28 and/orthe outer peripheral surface 26 of the container 10. Moreover, eachsurface of the sheet of material may vary in the combination of suchcharacteristics. The container 10 may be opaque, translucent, clear,tinted, transparent, or any combination thereof.

A decorative pattern 60, such as a color, a decal and/or an embossedpattern, and/or other decorative patterns may be applied to the housing40 or the at least one flexible sheet of material 43 from which thehousing 40 is constructed. For instance, the decorative pattern 60 maybe a printed design, coatings, colors, flocking, or metallic finishes.The at least one flexible sheet of material 43 also may be a totally orpartially clear or tinted transparent material. In the event the atleast one flexible sheet of material 43 is clear, partially clear,tinted, or tinted transparent material it may be desirable that the fillmaterial 38 have a color or decorative appearance for decorativepurposes.

The decorative pattern 60 on the container 10 may be printed, etched,and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. Thedecorative pattern 60 may also be one or more decorative patterns aloneor in combination. When two or more decorative patterns are present,they may be in register with one another, out of register with oneanother, or partially in register and partially out of register with oneanother. Examples of printed designs other than decorative designsinclude, for example, but not by way of limitation, UPC information,price information, care and handling information, and company or brandlogos. An example of an ink which may be applied to the at least oneflexible sheet of material 43 to provide the decorative pattern 60 isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706, entitled, “Water Based Ink On FoilAnd/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer,” issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1991,the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

A pump 62 can be utilized to add the fill material 38 through the inlet44 into the chamber 42 of the housing 40 to expand the container 10 intothe expanded condition. Although the pump 62 has been shown as anelectric pump, it should be understood that the pump 62 may be a handpump, a foot pump, a pressurized reservoir of fill material 38 such asby way of example a pressurized CO₂ gas cartridge or a pressurizedhelium cartridge. The pump 62 may also include a hose 64 and a nozzle 66capable of being opened and closed. The nozzle 66 is configured suchthat it is matingly compatible with the inlet 44 and substantially doesnot allow for the fill material 38 to escape from the hose 64 when inoperable connection. Pumps, hoses, nozzles, and valves are well known bythose of ordinary skill thus further discussion herein is not deemednecessary and these terms should be understood as having their broadesteveryday art meaning.

In one method of use, the housing 40 and sufficient quantities of thefill material 38 (such as a granular type) are provided. The inlet 44 isdisposed in the open position. The housing 40 is at least partiallyexpanded manually by gripping the housing 40 at or near the top 67 ofthe housing 40 with one hand and grasping the housing 40 at or near thebottom 68 of the housing 40 with the other hand and thereafter applyingopposing forces such that the housing 40 assumes a partially expandedcondition. The fill material 38 is then poured through the inlet 44 andinto the chamber 42 so as to more fully expand the housing 40. A funnel,not shown, can be utilized to assist in pouring the fill material 38through the inlet 44 and into the chamber 42. Preferably, while pouringthe fill material 38 into the chamber 42, the housing 40 is partiallyelevated such that the weight of the fill material 38 fully expands thehousing 40 and, in turn, the container 10.

After a sufficient quantity of fill material 38 has been poured into thechamber 42 so as to fully expand the housing 40, the inlet 44 is closedso as to prevent the fill material 38 from leaking out of the chamber42. Typically, when utilizing a granular solid type fill material 38 toexpand the housing 40, the inlet 44 is the hollow tube 47 with the cap48.

In another embodiment of the use of the container 10, the housing 40 andthe pump 62 are provided, and sufficient quantities of liquid or gaseousmaterials are used as the fill material 38. The pump 62 is placed incontact with the fill material 38 such that upon activation of the pump62 the fill material 38 is pumped through the pump 62 into the hose 64and thereafter to the nozzle 66. The inlet 44 is opened and the nozzle66 of the pump 62 is matingly connected to the inlet 44. The nozzle 66of the pump 62 is opened and the pump 62 is activated such that the fillmaterial 38 (i.e., the liquid or gaseous fill material) is forcedthrough the hose 64, through the nozzle 66, through the inlet 44, andinto the chamber 42. The chamber 42 is expanded by the pressure of thefill material 38 being forced into the chamber 42 until the chamber 42is substantially in the expanded condition. After introduction of thefill material 38 into the chamber 42, the inlet 44 is closed such thatthe chamber 42 remains in the substantially expanded condition tothereby provide the fully articulated container 10. The nozzle 66 isthereafter closed and removed from the inlet 44. Typically, whenutilizing a liquid or gaseous fill material as the fill material 38 toexpand the housing 40, the inlet 44 utilized is of the type describedhereinabove as including the hollow tube 47 that includes a valve stem50 that is capable of automatically opening and shutting in response toincreased or decreased pressure.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 shown therein is an expandable container 70constructed in accordance with the present invention similar to thecontainer 10. The expandable container 70 has an expanded condition asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 6. Theexpandable container 70 in the expanded condition includes at least onefill material 76 similar to the fill material previously described. Thecollapsed condition of the expandable container 70 is similar to thecollapsed condition of the container 10.

The expandable container 70 includes a multi-chambered housing 78. Themulti-chambered housing 78 has at least a first chamber 80 and a secondchamber 82. The multi-chambered housing 78 of the expandable container70 is constructed from at least one flexible sheet of material 84substantially impermeable to the fill material 76 similar to the atleast one sheet of flexible material 43 from which the housing 40 of thecontainer 10 is constructed. The multi-chambered housing 78 has a firstinlet 86 and a second inlet 88 similar to the inlet 44 of the housing 40of the container 10. The first and the second chambers 80 and 82 of thehousing 78 can be any size and shape and be formed by any method knownin the art. The first and second chambers 80 and 82 may be formed, forexample, by sealing an inner sidewall 90 of the multi-chambered housing78 to an outer sidewall 91 of the multi-chambered housing 78 in asubstantially horizontal line circumferentially approximately midwaybetween a top 92 and a bottom 94 of the multi-chambered housing 78.

In the expanded condition 72, typically the first and second chambers 80and 82 of the housing 78 are sufficiently pressurized and/orsufficiently filled with the fill material 76 to overcome atmosphericpressure, thereby, expanding the first and second chambers 80 and 82.The expandable container 70 in the expanded condition 72, has asubstantially open upper end 96, the inner sidewall 90, the outersidewall 91, a lower end 102 which is substantially closed, a retainingspace 104 defined by the inner sidewall 90 and the lower end 102, anouter periphery 106 substantially defined by the outer sidewall 91 andthe lower end 102, and an inner peripheral surface 108 substantiallydefined by the lower end 102 and the inside sidewall 98. It should benoted that a hole 110 optionally extends through the lower end 102 toallow for drainage of water or other liquids from the retaining space104. The multi-chambered housing 78 of the expandable container 70 isconfigured such that the hole 110 in the lower end 102 of the expandablecontainer 70 does not allow fill material 76 to escape from the chambers80 and 82. The retaining space 104 is similar to the retaining space 30of the container 10 and is also typically sized and shaped to contain orcover a floral grouping 112, a floral holding material 114, a flower pot(not shown), or combinations and derivations thereof.

The shape of the expandable container 70, at least in part, in theexpanded condition 72 is provided by the shape of the first and secondchambers 80 and 82 formed in the multi-chambered housing 78, theconfiguration and weight of the floral grouping 112, floral holdingmaterial 114 and/or flower pot disposed in the retaining space 104, thehorizontal, vertical, diagonal, or arcuate orientation of the chambers80 and 82, the expansive forces of the fill material 76 disposed withinthe first and second chambers 80 and 82, and the resistance of the atleast one sheet of flexible material 84. Those skilled in the art willreadily recognize and understand that the multi-chambered housing 78 caninclude any number of chambers.

In this embodiment of the expandable container 70 the first chamber 80and the second chamber 82 each surround a portion of the retaining space104 of the expandable container 70. For instance, by sealing the innersidewall 90 of the multi-chambered housing 78 to the outer sidewall 91of the multi-chambered housing 78 in a substantially horizontal linecircumferentially approximately midway between the open upper end 96 andthe lower end 102 of the multi-chambered housing 78 the first chamber 80is created and the second chamber 82 is created. It should be noted thefirst chamber 80 can be filled with a first fill material 122 such as agas and the second chamber 82 can be filled with a second fill material124, different from the first fill material 122 such as a granular solidfor decorative or functional purposes. For instance, the second chamber82, may be constructed of a transparent material and filled with acolored granular solid or a colored liquid in order to provide stabilityand a decorative effect to the expandable container 70 and the firstchamber 80 may be filled with a gas to provide a smooth outer periphery106 to the upper portion of the expandable container 70.

It should also be noted that although the expandable container 70 isshown and described as having first and second chambers 80 and 82, anynumber of chambers may be formed in the multi-chambered housing 78 ineither a horizontal orientation and/or in a vertical orientation.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 shown therein is a self inflatingexpandable container 130 constructed in accordance with the presentinvention similar to the expandable container 10. The self inflatingexpandable container 130 has an expanded condition as shown in FIG. 8and a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 7. The collapsed condition ofthe self inflating expandable container 130 is similar to the collapsedcondition of the container 10. The self inflating expandable container130 includes a multi-chambered housing 136 and at least a first fillmaterial 138 and a second fill material 140. The multi-chambered housing136 is constructed of at least one flexible sheet of material 141similar to the at least one flexible sheet of material 43 used toconstruct the housing 40.

The multi-chambered housing 136 has an outer chamber 142 and an innerchamber 144 disposed within the outer chamber 142. The first fillmaterial 138 is disposed in the inner chamber 144. The second fillmaterial 140 is disposed in the outer chamber 142. The first fillmaterial 138 and the second fill material 140 are capable of producing achemical reaction when they contact each other thereby producing anamount of gas, foam, or solid or semi-solid material to inflate themulti-chambered housing 136 into the expanded condition 132.

The inner chamber 144 is constructed, at least in part, of a materialand of a thickness such that the inner chamber 144 will break, rupture,tear, or separate without disrupting or disturbing the outer chamber 142and before the outer chamber 142 breaks, ruptures, tears, or separateswhen similar forces are applied to the inner chamber 144 and the outerchamber 142. The material from which the inner chamber 144 isconstructed can include one or more separating elements 150. Theseparating elements 150 are impermeable to the first and second fillmaterials 138 and 140 when the separating elements 150 are intact. Theseparating elements 150 can be, for instance, thin or weakened areas orweakened seals, indentations, or combinations and derivations of thesame designed to facilitate and insure that the inner chamber 144breaks, ruptures, tears, or separates before the outer chamber 142breaks, ruptures, tears, or separates when the inner chamber 144 and theouter chamber 142, are placed under similar simultaneous pressures,forces, or stresses. The first fill material 138 and the second fillmaterial 140 are isolated from each other until the inner chamber 144 isselectively broken, ruptured, torn, or separated by an operator. Thebreaking, rupturing, tearing, or separation of the inner chamber 144allows the first fill material 138 and second fill material 140 tocombine and mix.

The first fill material 138 is a first chemical and the second fillmaterial 140 is a second chemical that, when combined, produce anexpanding reaction which results in an expanding material 151. Suchchemical combinations are well know in the art. The selection, quantity,and concentration of the first and second fill materials 138 and 140 aredependent, among other things, upon the amount of expanding material 151desired. For example, the first fill material 138 may be manganesedioxide and the second fill material 140 could be an aqueous solution ofhydrogen peroxide or the first fill material 138 could be sodiumbicarbonate and the second fill material 140 could be acetic acid.Preferably, the first and second fill materials 138 and 140 are selectedso as to not chemically react with each other at a high temperature, norproduce a gas which could damage the multi-chambered housing 136, orwhich could be harmful to humans and/or animals if exposed thereto.

The first and second fill materials 138 and 140 could be artificiallycolored for a decorative effect in the event the outer chamber 142and/or inner chamber 144 or any portions thereof are transparent ortranslucent. Coloring agents such as food coloring, dyes, and paints arewell known in the art and need not be described herein.

In the expanded condition the outer chamber 142 is sufficientlypressurized or sufficiently filled with the expanding material 151 toovercome atmospheric pressure, expand the outer chamber 142 and therebyexpand the multi-chambered housing 136.

The self inflating expandable container 130 in the expanded conditionhas a substantially open upper end 152, an inside sidewall 154, anoutside sidewall 156, a substantially closed lower end 158, a retainingspace 160 defined by the inside sidewall 150 and the closed lower end158, an outer peripheral surface 162 substantially defined by theoutside sidewall 156 and closed lower end 158, and an inner peripheralsurface 164 substantially defined by the closed lower end 158 and theinside sidewall 154. The retaining space 160 is typically sized andconfigured to contain or cover a floral grouping, a floral holdingmaterial, a flower pot, or combinations and derivations thereof similarto the floral grouping 12, floral holding material 34, and flower pot 32previously described and shown.

In use, the multi-chambered housing 136 with the first fill material 138in the inner chamber 144 and the second fill material 140 in the outerchamber 142 is provided. The operator applies a compressive force to themulti-chambered housing 136 of sufficient magnitude (such as a squeezingbetween one or two hands) to cause the inner chamber 144 to rupture butof insufficient magnitude to cause the outer chamber 142 to rupture. Asthe inner chamber 144 with the first fill material 138 ruptures thefirst fill material 138 flows from the inner chamber 144, mixes with thesecond fill material 140 in the outer chamber 142, and produces theexpanding material 151 thereby causing the multi-chambered housing 136to expand and provide the self inflating expandable container 130 in itsexpanded condition.

Thereafter, an item, such as the flower pot 32, the floral holdingmaterial 34, and the floral grouping 12, can be disposed into theretaining space 160 of the self inflating expandable container 130.

Changes may be made in the various elements, components, parts, andassemblies described herein or in the steps or sequences of steps of themethods described herein without departing from the spirit and the scopeof the invention as defined in the following claims.

From the above description, it is clear that the present invention iswell adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantagesmentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. Whilepresently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described forpurposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changesmay be made to various elements, components, parts, and assembliesdescribed herein or in the steps or sequences of steps of the methodsdescribed herein which will readily suggest themselves to those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A container for a floral grouping, the container having a collapsedcondition and an expanded condition, the container comprising: a housinghaving a chamber for receiving and retaining a fill material, in thecollapsed condition the fill material external to the chamber and in theexpanded condition the fill material disposed within the chamber suchthat the chamber is substantially full of the fill material and therebyexpands the chamber and the housing so as to provide the container witha retaining space for containing the floral grouping.
 2. The containerof claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises an inlet for permittingselective introduction and removal of the fill material from thechamber.
 3. The container of claim 2 wherein the fill material is a gas.4. The container of claim 3 wherein the inlet is an air valve.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 2 wherein the fill material is a liquid.
 6. Thecontainer of claim 5 wherein the inlet is a hollow tube and a cap forselectively sealing and unsealing the hollow tube.
 7. The container ofclaim 2 wherein the fill material is a granular solid.
 8. The containerof claim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container has afrusto-conical configuration.
 9. The container of claim 1 wherein in theexpanded condition the container has a conical configuration.
 10. Thecontainer of claim 1 wherein in the expanded condition the container hasa cubic configuration.
 11. The container of claim 1 wherein in theexpanded condition the container has a cylindrical configuration. 12.The container of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a plurality ofchambers.
 13. A self inflating container for containing a floralgrouping, the self inflating container comprising; a housing, thehousing having inner chamber impermeable to a first fill materialdisposed in the inner chamber and an outer chamber impermeable to asecond fill material disposed in the outer chamber, the inner chamberdisposed within the outer chamber, the inner chamber constructed of amaterial such that when a force is applied to the housing, the internalchamber is ruptured causing the first fill material to mix with thesecond fill material causing a chemical reaction producing an expandingmaterial which causes the outer chamber and the housing to expand andprovide a retaining space configured for containing the floral grouping.14. The self inflating container of claim 13 wherein the first fillmaterial is manganese dioxide and the second fill material is ouraqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide.
 15. The self inflating containerof claim 13 wherein the first fill material is a sodium bicarbonate andthe second fill material is an acetic acid.
 16. The self inflatingcontainer of claim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the containerhas a frusto-conical configuration.
 17. The self inflating container ofclaim 13 wherein in the expanded condition the container has a conicalconfiguration.
 18. The self inflating container of claim 13 wherein inthe expanded condition the container has a cubic configuration.
 19. Theself inflating container of claim 13 wherein in the expanded conditionthe container has a cylindrical configuration.
 20. A method of expandinga container from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition forcontaining a floral grouping the method comprising the steps of:providing a fill material; providing a housing, the housing having achamber for receiving and retaining the fill material, in the collapsedcondition the chamber being substantially devoid of the fill materialsuch that the flexible material folds forming a plurality of overlappingfolds, and in the expanded condition the chamber being substantiallyfull of the fill material such that the fill material causes theoverlapping folds to disperse and the chamber to expand and cause thehousing to expand and thereby provide the container with a retainingspace configured for containing at least part of the floral grouping;and disposing a sufficient amount of the fill material into the chamberto expand the chamber and the housing and provide the container with theretaining space for disposing the floral grouping therein.
 21. Themethod of claim 20 wherein the fill material is a gas.
 22. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a liquid.
 23. The method of claim20 wherein the fill material is a granular solid.
 24. The method ofclaim 20 wherein the fill material is a combination of gas, liquid andgranular solids.
 25. The method of claim 20 wherein the housing furtherincludes an inlet for permitting selective introduction and removal ofthe fill material into and from the chamber.
 26. The method of claim 20further including providing a pump for pumping fill material into thechamber of the housing.
 27. The container of claim 20 further whereinthe pump for adding fill material into the chamber of the housing is anelectric pump.
 28. The container of claim 20 further wherein the pumpfor adding fill material into the chamber of the housing is a hand pump.29. The container of claim 20 further wherein the pump for adding fillmaterial into the chamber of the housing is a pressurized reservoir offill material.
 30. The container of claim 29 wherein the pressurizedreservoir of fill material is a CO₂ gas cartridge.
 31. The method ofclaim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandable container hasa frusto-conical configuration.
 32. The method of claim 20 wherein inthe expanded condition the expandable container has a conicalconfiguration.
 33. The method of claim 20 wherein in the expandedcondition the expandable container has a cubic configuration.
 34. Themethod of claim 20 wherein in the expanded condition the expandablecontainer has a cylindrical configuration.
 35. The method of claim 20wherein the housing has a plurality of chambers.
 36. A method ofinflating a self inflating container for containing a floral grouping,the method comprising the steps of: providing the self inflatingcontainer for a floral grouping, the self inflating expandable containerfor a floral grouping comprising: a housing having an inner chamberimpermeable to a first fill material disposed in the inner chamber andan outer chamber impermeable to a second fill material disposed in theouter chamber, the inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber, theinner chamber constructed such that when a force is applied to thehousing the inner chamber ruptures causing the first fill material tomix with the second fill material causing a chemical reaction producingan expanding material which causes the outer chamber and the housing toexpand and thereby providing a retaining space configured for containingthe floral grouping; and applying a force to the housing such that theinner chamber ruptures, combining the first fill material with thesecond fill material, producing the expanding material, causing theouter chamber and housing to expand and thereby inflating the selfinflatable container and providing the retaining space configured forcontaining the floral grouping.
 37. The method of claim 36 wherein theself inflating container in the expanded condition has a frusto-conicalconfiguration.
 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the self inflatingcontainer in the expanded condition has a conical configuration.
 39. Themethod of claim 36 wherein the self inflating container in the expandedcondition has a cubic configuration.
 40. The method of claim 36 whereinthe self inflating container in the expanded condition has a cylindricalconfiguration.